Improved treatment for hepatitis C virus would have a positive impact on the overall survival of liver transplant recipients, find doctors in the latest issue of the American Journal of Transplantation.

There has been a marked increase in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease during the last 25 years in Denmark, find researchers in the June issue of the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Risk factors for recurrent IBD after liver transplantation are symptoms at time of transplantation, a short interval of IBD before transplantation, and the use of tacrolimus, find scientists in the American Journal of Transplantation.

Although mortality rates are similar between therapies for Crohn's disease, the latest Clinical Gastroenterology & Hepatology finds that prednisone is associated with increased mortality, and infliximab increases the risk of serious infection.

The latest issue of the Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology finds that male gender and obesity are risk factors for erosive esophagitis, whereas female gender and neuroticism are associated with GERD symptoms.

There are no survival advantages from systemic treatments in hepatocellular cancer, although some trials show a better local control in larger tumors, reports the latest Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

During the past 15 years, the volume of procedures performed by endoscopists in the US has increased 2- to 4-fold, with propofol being used for sedation in a quarter of all endoscopies, finds May's American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Morbidity rates are less for laparoscopic appendectomy in complicated appendicitis than those reported for open appendectomy, however, operating times and hospital stays are similar, finds this month's Surgical Endoscopy.

The model for end-stage liver disease allocation system is not associated with increased mortality or the occurrence of Stage 3 or 4 chronic renal disease in the first 2 years after liver transplant, finds this month's Liver Transplantation.

Capsule endoscopy is superior to all other modalities for diagnosing non-stricturing small bowel Crohn's, but techniques are similar in diagnosing suspected initial presentation of Crohn's, finds May's American Journal of Gastroenterology.